Nagaland gets its first two women MLAs in NDPP’s Hekani Jakhalu, Salhoutuonuo Kruse | Nagaland Election News

KOHIMA: After 60 years since its statehood, Nagaland on Thursday scripted history as two women candidates were elected in the 2023 state assembly elections.
Salhoutuonuo Kruse and Hekani Jakhaluboth belonging to the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), achieved a historic feat by winning their respective seats.
Kruse emerged victorious in the Western Angami AC constituency while Jakhalu secured the Dimapur-III seat.
Hekhani Jakhalu
Hekhani Jakhalu is a faculty member at Delhi University and holds a graduate degree from the same institution. Jakhalu secured 14,395 votes.
“This is only the first step. We need to do many good things in future,” Jakhalu said on her victory.
Jakhalu, who was honoured with the Nari Shakti Award in 2018, had made the four-point commitment to the people of the constituency.
During elections, the social entrepreneur, had also committed to providing livelihoods to youth, fighting for the rights of women, making her constituency a model one and laying special emphasis on the development of minority-inhabited areas of her constituency.
Salhoutuonuo Kruse
Salhoutuonuo Kruse, a hotel owner, ran against Nakhro in the Western Angami constituency.
She also served in NGOs for more than 24 years.
“Today, we have created history. This momentous victory belongs to us. I owe this victory to God Almighty, and to my citizens of Western Angami. I am very humbled by the support everyone has given me,” Salhoutuonuo Kruse said in a tweet.

Both Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio expressed their support for Kruse during the campaign.
Four women candidates in the fray
This year, there were four women candidates — Jakhalu, Kruse, Rosy Thomson of the Congress and Kahuli Sema of the BJP — in the fray.
Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio congratulates Salhoutuonuo Kruse and Hekani Jakhalu
Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio congratulated Salhoutuonuo Kruse and Hekani Jakhalu on their victory.

“Heartfelt congratulations to Salhoutuonuo Kruse and Hekani Jakhalu on winning the assembly elections. You carry the hopes of women and future generations as changemakers and role models. I hope you will continue to be passionate and courageous,” Neiphiu Rio tweeted.